Apparatus for flash-light photography.



fZiZizeaaeax No. 881,595. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908.

G. R. LAWRENCE.

APPARATUS FOR FLASH LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.

A APPLICATION FILED APB.80, 1906.

3 SKEETS-SHBET 1.

THE mum's PETERS :0, WASHINGTON, uc.

b. 881,595. A PATRNTRD MAR. 10, 190R.

. G. R. LAWRENCE. APPARATUS FOR FLASH LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.

APPLICATION FILED APR.30, 1906.

' 3 SHBETSSHEET 2.

- mlllamus PETER! 00., WASHINGTON, o. c.

PATENTED MAR. 10, 19b

- e. R. LAWRENCE. A

A APPARATUS FOR FLASH LIGHT BHOTOGRAPHYA APPLICATION FILED APB..30,1906.

a sums-SHEET a.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Flash -LightPhotography, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specilication.

My invention relates in general to the art L5 of photography, and moreparticularly to apparatus for use in making flash light photographs.

The taking of flash light photographs has heretofore been attended byobjectionable 30 effects owing to the smoke incident to the ignition ofthe powder which produces the flash light. The smoke fills the room andcharges the atmosphere with disagreeable fumes. The apparatus heretoforeused in :5 producing the flash light has also been more or lessunsightly.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an apparatus forproducing the flash light necessary for indoor photographs by means ofwhich the smoke resulting from the ignition of the powder will beprevented from charging the atmosphere and which will, in its operation,produce a pleasing appearance.

A further object of my invention is to provide a trough for containingflash light pow der by means of which a minimum amount of powder will benecessary and which may be so adjusted as to ignite the powder by anelectric current of any available voltage.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a flash lightapparatus for use in photography which will be simplehn construction,inexpensive in manufacture, and efficient in use.

The embodiment of my invention herein disclosed. may be generallydescribed as comprising a closed bag depending from a normallyhorizontal supporting frame, a trough for containing the powdersuspended by the frame within the bag, means for automaticallypermitting the supporting frame to fall into a vertical position uponthe ignition of the powder, an ornamental covering such as Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed April 30, 1906. Serial No. 314,406.

a flag arranged to automatically unroll and UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR FLASH-LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.

Patented March 10, 1908.

cover the bag in which the explosion has occurred, and electricalconnections for igniting the powder within the trough.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus before the ignitionof the powder; Fig. 2 a similar view after the ignition of the powder;Fig. 3 a plan View of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 4 anelevational view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is anenlarged plan view of the supporting frame; Fig. 6 a vertical sectionalView on line 6 6 Fig. 5 showing the bag supported by the frame; Fig. 7an enlarged elevational view of the trough for containing the powder;Fig. 8 a sectional view on line 88 Fig. 7 Fig. 9 a plan view of theunder surface of the bottom of the trough; Fig. 10 a detail view of afuse; Fig. 1.1 an enlarged sectionalview of the means for permitting thebag to automatically collapse; Fig. 12 an enlarged sectional view online 1212 Fig. 5; Fig. 13 is an enlarged plan of the valve through thetop of the bag, and Fig. 14 an edge elevational View of the valve.

The same reference characters are used to designate the same parts inthe several figures of the drawings.

Reference character A indicates a suitable support such as the wall of aroom, while a indicates the bracket on the wall which may be the usualpicture cornice.

B indicates a bag made of any suitable fabric which will be translucentand at the same time of such texture as to prevent the passagetherethrough of smoke generated by the ignition of powder.

C indicates a supporting frame which may be conveniently formedrectangular and which is located within the top of the bag. The frame Cis provided with clips C C preferably constructed as shown in detail inFig. 12, such clips being secured to the rear rod of the frame adjacentits ends. Clamp screws 0 c extend through the fabric of the bag abovethe clips and into engagement with screw-thread holes in the clips.Washers such as indicated at-c surround the clamp screws and betweenwhich and the heads of the screws are secured the lower ends ofsupporting cords D D The upper ends of the cords are united to a ring Dwhich may engage a supporting device such as the picture hook d which inturn is supported upon the cornice a.

Secured to the front rod of the frame intermediate of its ends is a clipC which supports a downwardly inclined strip Cfmade of any rigidmaterial. The lower end of the strip C is provided with a hole engagedby a hook c detachably connected to the lower end of a strip C The stripC extends through a hole in the top of the bag and is provided with anopening to be engaged by a clasp d. The clasp d is connected by a cord Dto the ring D. The hook c is secured at the lower end of the strip C bysome fusible adhesive so that the heat generated by the ignition of thepowder will instantly melt the adhesive and permit the strip C toseparate from the hook. In order that the smoke may be prevented fromescaping through the hole in the top of the bag around the strip C", avalve or flap 6 is provided. This valve may be in the form of a rubberband surrounding a plate I) secured in any suitable manner to theexterior surface of the top of the bag. The plate I) is provided with ahole through which the strip C extends and which will be instantlyclosed by the valve when the bag falls from around the strip as shown inFig. 2.

G indicates a trough for supporting the flash light powder. This troughdepends within the bag and is supported by the side rods of the frame C.Clips F F are secured to the side rods of the frame C and support theupper ends of chains f f the lower ends of which are secured to the endsof the trough G by means of rings g 9 The trough is narrow in width incomparison with its length and is provided with parallel side wallsconverging at their upper ends as shown in Fig. 8. A strip of insulatingmaterial H is secured beneath the trough and is provided with a hole 72therethrough registering with a hole in the bottom wall of the trough.Secured beneath the insulating strip H are terminals with which areconnected leads extending from an electric circuit. Each terminalcomprises two plates between which an end of a fuse is adapted to beclamped.

K & it" indicate the plates of one terminal united by a binding screw Zto which the lead L is connected. A screw it extends through the strip Hand through the two parts K & 7c of the terminal. A clamping nut Hsurrounds the screw h and retains the terminal against the under surfaceof the strip H and also serves to clamp the two pertions of the terminaltogether.

Y and it indicate the two portions of the other terminal which areunited by a binding screw Z to which is united the lead L 7L2 indicatesa screw extending through the 5 strip H for uniting the terminalthereto.

H indicates a clamp nut on the screw it for uniting the terminal to thestrip H ant also for clamping the two parts of the ter minal together.

M indicates a fuse comprising a flexible support upon which is mounted afusible wire m. The ends of the fuse are clamped between the two part-sof the. terminals in such a position that a portion of the wire munderlies the hole It leading from the bottom of the trough G. The fuseM is used when the current available for igniting the powder is of highvoltage, but when the available current is low voltage the fuse isunnecessary as the terminal comprising the parts K and 7c may be rotated180 degrees to the position shown in Fig. 9 in which the edge of thepart K is located adjacent the edge of the other terminal forming aspark gap beneath the opening h. If the terminals were arranged as shownin Fig. 9 when a high voltage current were used the arcing of thecurrent would destroy the terminals consequently the fuse M is used toavoid such destruction of the terminals when a high voltage current isemployed.

E indicates an ornamental covering for the bag when the latter collapsesafter the ignition of the powder; Such covering may be a flag which isprovided with eyes 0 c through which the cords D D pass. When theapparatus is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the flag is rolled andsupported above the bag at the rear thereof. Upon the dropping of theframe the flag unrolls and covers" 10 the bag presenting an attractiveappearance in lieu of the unsightly bag which would otherwise bevisible.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The powder is placed withinthe 1 trough G and the trough suspended by the chains f from the frameC. The bag B is then placed around the frame and its open bottom endtied as shown at 1) around the leads L L The strip C is projectedthrough the opening in the plate I)" on the top of the bag, the flexiblevalve 1)" permitting the passage of the strip through the plate. Theclasp d is then engaged with the end of the strip C so that the framewill be supported in a horizontal position by means of the cord D and bymeans of the cords D D the ends of which are secured beraath the clampscrews 0 c on the clips C hen it is desired to take a picture thecircuit is closed through the leads L L which, when the terminalsbeneath the trough are in the positions shown in Fig. 9, gives a sparkwhich ignites the powder, or if the terminals are in position shown inFig. 7 the fusible wire m ignites the powder. The ignition of the powderproduces a flash light necessary to take the picture, the ligh passingreadily through the bag B. Th

. lines in Fig. 2.

texture of the bag, however, confines the smoke within the same.

In order to prevent the force of the explosion rupturing the bag, itmade full at the corners as indicated at b b in Fig. 3. Such fullnesspermits the bag to expand when the explosion takes place as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 1. The heat generated by the explosion melts thesoft solder or other fusible adhesive which secures the hook c to thelower end of the strip thereby permitting the front rod of the frame Cto fall downwardly by gravity so that the bag assumes the position shownin Fig. 2. The powder is of such a composition that the smoke generatedby its explosion immediately precipitates in the form of a powderpermitting the bag to collapse to the position shown in full Immediatelyupon the frame C swinging downwardly the flag E unrolls in front of thebag.

In order that the hook a may be located within the bag a suflicientdistance, the strip 0" extends downwardly in an inclined position asshown in Figs. 1 and 11. If it were not for the fusible adherent whichunites the hook to the strip being located beneath the surface of thebag it would not be subjected to sufficient heat to be fused.

By providing the trough G of great length in comparison to its crosssection, the powder when ignited forms an extended sheet of lightthereby rendering it possible to use a smaller quantity of powder thanis necessary with other forms of flash light pans. The converging sidewalls of the trough G also serve to minimize the amountof powdernecessary to produce the desired volume of light as the restrictedopening at the top of the trough impedes the free passage of the gasgenerated by the powder so that it is forced upwardly thereby increasingthe area of the sheet of light produced by the explosion.

After the use of the apparatus for taking a picture it may be readilyremoved by merely disconnecting the ring D from the hook d. Theapparatus may be readily prepared for re-use by merely uniting the hookc to the strip C by soft solder and by placing a new fuse M between theterminals when the current to be used is of high voltage. When thecurrent available is of low voltage, it is unnecessary to-use a fuse forthe reason above explained.

When. the heat generated by the explosion disconnects the hook from itssupporting strip, the latter passes through the plate b as the bagswings downwardly. Immediately upon the strip passing through the bagthe resilient valve b closes the opening through the plate I) so thatthe escape of smoke is prevented.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have inventedan improved apparatus for use in taking flash light photographs by meansof which the desired light may be produced with a minimum amount ofpowder, and by means of which the smoke generated by the ignition of thepowder is confined within a bag and thereby preventiiig the atmospherebeing rendered disagreea e.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a translucentcollapsible closure, of means for creating light within said closure,and -means for automatically effecting the collapse of said closure uponthe creation of the light therein.

2. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a collapsibletranslucent closure, of means for creating light within said closure,

means for automaticallyeffecting the collapse of said closure upon thecreation of the light therein, and a cover for automatically screeningsaid closure upon its collapse.

3. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a translucent bag,of a frame within said bag for supporting the same, means for supportingsaid frame in position to distend said bag, a support for powderdepending from said frame within said bag, means for igniting thepowder, and means for automatically permitting said frame to swing intoposition to collapse said bag upon the ignition of the powder.

4. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a translucentnormally closed bag, of a frame within said bag for supporting the samedistended, hangers for supporting said frame in position to distend saidbag, a support for powder within said bag, means for igniting the powderwhile surrounded by said bag, means for automatically disconnecting oneof said hangers from said frame upon the ignition of the powder.

5. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a translucentnormally closed bag, of a frame within said bag for support ing thesame, hangers for supporting said frame in position to distend the bag,a support for powder within said bag, means for igniting the powderwhile surrounded by said bag, and a fusible connection between one ofsaid hangers and said frame.

6. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a translucent bag,of a frame for supporting said bag, hangers for supporting said frame inposition to distend said bag, one of said hangers extending through thebag to the interior thereof, a strip extending from said frame withinsaid bag, a fusible connection between said strip and said hangers,means for supporting powder within said bag, and means for igniting thepowder.

7. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a closed bagconsisting wholly of a flexible material a portion of which at least istranslucent, of means for supporting said bag in a partially collapsedcondition, means for supporting a flash light charge within said bag,and means for igniting said charge while the bag remains closed, saidbag being free to expand to its full extent upon the ignition of thecharge.

8. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a closed bag made ofa flexible material a portion of which at least is translucent, of meansfor supporting said bag with a portion thereof collapsed, means forsupporting a flash light charge within said bag, and means for ignitingsaid charge while the bag remains closed, said bag being free to expandto its full extent upon the ignition of the charge.

9. In a flash light apparatus, a trough for containing the powder havingan opening in a wall thereof, a pair of electrical terminals supportedon the outside of said trough for igniting the powder through said opening, each of said terminals composed of two parts between which the endof a fuse is adapted to be secured, and means for relatively adjustingthe two parts of each terminal to permit the insertion of the ends ofthe fuse.

10. In a flash light apparatus, a trough for containing the powderhaving an opening in a wall thereof, a pair of electrical terminalssupported on the outside of said trough for igniting the powder throughsaid opening, each of said terminals composed of two parts, means forrelatively adjusting the two parts of each terminal to permit theinsertion of the ends of a fuse, and means for ad justing one of saidterminals relatively to the other to vary the distance between saidterminals to produce a spark in lieu of employing a fuse.

11. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a translucent bag,of a frame for supporting said bag distended, a trough for containingpowder depending from said frame within said bag, means for igniting thepowder, and means for automatically permitting said frame to collapsesaid bag upon the ignition of the powder.

12. In a flash light apparatus, the combination with a closed bag madeof a flexible and translucent material, of means for supporting said bagpartially expanded so as to permit it to expand further upon pressure inthe interior thereof, means for supporting a flash light charge withinsaid bag, and means for igniting said charge while the bag remainsclosed.

13. In a flash light apparatus, a collapsible closed receptacle, aportion of which at least is translucent, means for supporting saidreceptacle in an expanded condition which permits it to expand furtherunder internal pressure, means for supporting a flash light chargewithin said receptacle, and means for igniting said charge while thereceptacle remains closed.

14. In a flash light apparatus, a flexible closed bag a portion of whichat least is translucent, means for supporting said bag in an expandedcondition which permits it to expand further under internal pressure,means for supporting a flash light charge within said bag, and means forigniting said charge.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE R. LAWRENCE.

WVitnesses:

GEO. L. WILK NsON, BERTHA NATHANSON.

